News

Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial Service to be Held May 15

May 08, 2019

The City of Cuyahoga Falls will host the annual Peace Officers Memorial Service to pay tribute to fallen officers, on Wednesday, May 15, at 10:00 a.m. at the Police Memorial, located at the Cuyahoga Falls Civic Center Campus, 2310 2nd Street. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Dr. Robert Kent, President and CEO of Western Reserve Hospital.

“We are thankful for the continued support of Dr. Kent and Western Reserve Hospital to our community and our safety forces,” stated Steve Amos, Chairman of the Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial and Honor Guard Foundation (CFSLPMF).

This year, four names will be inscribed on the memorial wall, including Charles E. Metzner (1932-2018) who served the City of Cuyahoga Falls for 36 years, from 1958 to 1994, according to Amos. Through historical research by the CFSLPMF three additional names will be engraved that meet modern day memorial foundation guidelines: Wester J. Watson who served the City of Cuyahoga Falls for 23 years, from 1920 to 1943; Stanley S. Falcon who served the City of Cuyahoga Falls for 18 years, from 1941 to 1959; and Frank Gravatt who served the City of Cuyahoga Falls for 17 years, from 1929 to 1946.

“I am proud of the dedication and professionalism of the men and women who serve and protect our community,” stated Mayor Don Walters. “We thank them for their commitment to keeping us safe from harm.”

The Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial and Honor Guard Foundation is asking the public to show their support for their local law enforcement officers by displaying black and blue ribbons, turning on a blue porch light or flying a police memorial flag during the week. Blue Lights are available at Cuyahoga Falls City Hall with a suggested donation of $5 to the Justin Winebrenner Fund. Memorial flags may be purchased from Falls Flag and Banner, with donations from each sale going to the Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Memorial and Honor Guard Foundation. With the support of city officials from both Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake, more than 200 police memorial flags and banners will fly over city streets and other public buildings. Schools, businesses, and private residents will also be flying the flag. The Foundation believes this may be one of the largest police memorial flag displays in the country.

In August 2012, the Police Memorial was dedicated in the City of Cuyahoga Falls to honor the men and women of the Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake Police Departments. Each year, during National Police Week, a service is held to remember and honor fallen officers. The 2019 National Police Week will be observed beginning Sunday, May 12, and will run through Saturday, May 18.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. Every year, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from all over the country come together to remember and honor those officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

It is the hope of the Foundation, as well as City and Village officials that this overwhelming show of support will show law enforcement officers that their commitment to the betterment of community and sacrifices to serve and protect, are both honored and appreciated.